photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Brooks Jones celebrates with his teammates after a strikeout to end the inning during Wednesday's City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.

A hot night at the plate by senior lefty Brooks Jones sent Lawrence High rolling past Free State 10-1 in a crosstown baseball showdown on Wednesday night at Hoglund Ballpark.

Picking up two strikeouts in the first inning, Jones and LHS (9-9) zeroed in on the Firebirds. Jones allowed just a single hit through six innings, finishing the night with a walk and eight total strikeouts.

In a game against a 20-man roster of close friends and bitter rivals, Jones said it was extra important to be sharp.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a while,” Jones said. “A lot of emotions at the start of the season just to get ready for this. I woke up this morning feeling like, ‘you gotta do what you gotta do to get a win.'”

LHS junior Tyson Grammer was hot off the bat with a double in the top of the first. Senior Sammy Stoll followed his teammate’s cue, driving Grammer in with an RBI triple during the next at-bat. Next up with two outs, junior Connor Nowak singled but Free State starting pitcher Kyle Graves struck out Jones to hold the Lions to a single run crossed in the first.

Still pitted against a 1-0 lead, Graves and the Firebirds (14-6) gave up three runs to LHS in the top of the third. With runners at first and second, Jones delivered his first hit of the game, and it was a big one — a two-run, RBI double — to push LHS’ lead to 3-0 with no outs in the third. An RBI single by junior Cale Paden put the Lions up by four runs before Graves and company got out of the inning.

Free State, hitless heading into the fourth, called on senior Adam Coup to relieve Graves in the top of the fourth. Coup filled the bases on a base hit and two walks before getting the hook in favor of senior Jackson Waggoner.

Then, disaster struck. Waggoner, hitting back-to-back batters to cross two runs, saw a third run cross on a passed ball and a fourth on a two-run, RBI-double by LHS senior Nathan Blettner to let LHS enter the fifth ahead 9-0 and hungry for more.

The Firebirds’ self-inflicted wounds were costly on Wednesday night, Free State coach Mike Hill said.

“They’ve learned something,” Hill said. “If we continue to repeat mistakes, I would certainly suggest that maybe we haven’t learned from things.”

Waggoner cooled the Lions down in the top of the fifth, striking out Sammy Stoll and getting bailed out on a double play forced by freshman Ben Graves and senior Tyler Vigna. With two on base and two outs on the board, a shot by sophomore Ryan Weishaar to right field didn’t have the distance and was caught by Paden to end the inning.

LHS was quiet through the top of the sixth, and then FSHS’ Ben Graves (HBP) and Brady Kern (ER) got on base with two outs. Vigna broke Jones’ no-hitter, delivering the first hit of the day with an RBI single to help the Firebirds finally get on the board heading into the seventh.

An RBI-double by Dominic Ostronic stretched the LHS lead out to 10-1 in the final frame, setting up a quick final for senior closer Noah Kirk and the Lions’ defense.

Reflecting on his group’s tough 2-7 start, LHS coach Brad Stoll said he was proud of the turnaround they had achieved.

“We were in a tailspin,” he said. “These kids showed some resiliency and some toughness. Came out tonight, played well against a very good team. They’re going to be No. 2 in the west for a reason. I was pleased with our offensive approach and we set the tone early, which was really important.”

LHS will close out its regular season hosting Shawnee Heights on Thursday and Rockhurst on Friday. Free State will look toward the Class 6A west regional playoff slated for May 15-18 at Wichita Southeast High School.

“It’s a new season, and whether we won tonight 10-1 or lost 10-1, nothing changes,” Hill said.

BOX SCORE:

Lawrence 103 500 1 – 10 11 1

Free State 000 001 0 – 1 1 5

W – B. Jones; L – K. Graves.

Highlights for LHS: Jones 1-for-3, 3 RBI; Blettner 0-for-4, 2 RBI; Crawford 2-for-5, RBI; Grammar 2-for-3, 3 R; Stoll 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI; Nowak 0-for-3, 1 R, RBI; Paden 2-for-4; Jones 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K; Kirk 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K.

Highlights for Free State: Vigna 1-for-3, RBI; Waggoner 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 K.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State freshman Ben Graves chats with assistant coach Nolan Dietrich at third base during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Brady Kern takes a swing during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Tyson Grammer waits for the next at-bat during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State freshman Ben Graves returns to second base after trying to pick off third during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Brooks Jones throws a pitch during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Sammy Stoll waits for a hit at third base during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Sammy Stoll celebrates with a teammate after crossing home plate during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Jackson Waggoner throws a pitch during Wednesday’s City Showdown at Hoglund Ballpark on May 10, 2023.